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Steele: I would win reelection

Asked about the outside spending groups that were formed in part to work around him, Steele said: “I've not bad-mouthed about any of my partners. I've not said anything untoward about their efforts. I know that has not been the return favor to the RNC. I get that. … Look, the bottom line is this: This is a different financial playground for us. This is a different environment for us.”

On how national parties should adapt to this new playing field, Steele said: “The role of the national party should be what they always should have been, and that is grass roots. … We're now going to be back to that, because that's where the action is … helping state parties grow; build the infrastructure, farm teams; using technology better, smartly, more wisely.

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“And then let others do the independent expenditures, go on television. … And we'll be there in the trenches, where we need to be, to make sure that [the] vote turns out on Election Day.”

In the past, the RNC has had a program for deploying Capitol Hill staffers to states and districts for a final blitz before elections, and Steele said he intentionally went in a different direction.

“Let me address one other issue because I know it's kind of been the buzz here in town, about our 72-hour program,” he said. “We did not eliminate our 72-hour program. What we did was we made a smart investment. We took a look at what our 72-hour program had done in the past. We talked to our state party leadership around the country and asked them what worked, what didn't work for them. And instead of paying for airplanes, per diems and hotels for an untold number of Capitol Hill staff …

“I have 170,000 volunteers. Why am I gonna pay for people to fly from Capitol Hill to California when I can take that money and give it to the state party for them to invest in the volunteers that are there for their 72-hour program? … [W]e’ve turned [RNC headquarters] into the largest victory [get-out-the-vote] center in the country. So those Hill staffers, if you still want to, can come here this weekend and dial ... off the 100 phones we have here. Just take a walk. Walk across the street. Come on in the building and dial. If that's what your emphasis [is] — you want to turn out that vote — you can come here, get on the phone and do that.”

Readers' Comments (28)

I think that Steele is one of those who doesn't yet quite understand what the Tea Party movement is all about. It is not a movement of Republicans against Democrats. It is a grassroots movement of the people against what has become an entrnched ruling class. There is far less difference between Republican and Democratic politicians than there is between politicians in general and the taxpayers who are forced to suport them and their fantasies. Anyone who doesn't understand that is not capable of understanding what the tea parties are all about.

Steele may find his job becoming increasingly irrelevant as parallel structures are formed to take power away from the entrenched bureaucracies. One such example is Rove and his group that has had much more to do with the success of the Republican party this year than Steele has.

We appreciate Steele's assistance this election cycle in helping to remove marxists from the government, but he is part of the ruling party that will have to be removed from power before this second American Revolution is over.

Keep your day time job Michael. The people are restless and don't like someone that overestimates himselve. Political correctness may keep you in office. Having said that , people more and more won't go by political correctness anymore. Good Luck.

He's toast. He screwed up and he won't survive the first round of voting in Jan. 2011!

Oh, and to the person who said his problem was not understanding the Tea Party, he understands them well enough. Translation: You do what the Koch Brothers (who have funded the TP'ers) say, or else!

If anyone is dumb enough to think that by electing a few dozen House Reps. or a couple of Senators who had Tea Party or Palin support is going to change ANYTHING...think again. Hardcore TP'ers will be ignored, not assigned to any important committees and generally pushed to the sidelines UNLESS they play ball (we already know most of them will avoid the press). If they don't work within the party, and they lock up or shut down government with their stubbornnesss and unwillingness to negotiate, then Obama wins easily in 2012!

Of course you would..as the token black. You are in the same mold of Juan Williams and Clarence Thomas, who are just tokens willing to make a buck even if they have to "sellout" and go against the grain of what should be right for them and their communities....and in the end what is also good for America.

“Oh, if I run, I'm going to win,” Steele said in an interview for the POLITICO video series “Countdown to 2010.” I have money that says you won't, Mr. Steele. [This must be Steele setting the stage to announce he has done a marvelous job – "Just look at all the Republican victories!" – and that he will NOT run again (to save himself from the humiliation of a landslide loss.)]

I like Steele, he is an effective and honest communicator of Conservative values.

From what I understand though (from the outside looking in), is that the RNC chairmanship is primarily a fundraising position. By most accounts Steele has not been an effective fundraiser in a very favorable climate for the GOP.

If that is true then Steele may need to be replaced. I hope not. Steele has an ability to connect with people that few in the Republican Party can match.

Like it or not, without the efforts of Steele, and the Tea Party of course, the GOP would still be out wandering on the plains right about now, instead of standing at the entrance of both big tents. Nice work Steele, nice work.

I think that Steele is one of those who doesn't yet quite understand what the Tea Party movement is all about. It is not a movement of Republicans against Democrats. It is a grassroots movement of the people against what has become an entrnched ruling class. There is far less difference between Republican and Democratic politicians than there is between politicians in general and the taxpayers who are forced to suport them and their fantasies. Anyone who doesn't understand that is not capable of understanding what the tea parties are all about.

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You are dead on - VERY WELL PUT! If I may add - The Tea Party Stands behind the Constitution, Liberty, Freedom and Smaller less intrusive - Government. A Government that serves the people from the bottom up - Not the top down. I also do not believe the Tea Party in any way shape or form should be 'backing' or 'endorsing' ANY Candidate. I keep hearing/reading this through different medias ie: "Tea Party is backing so and so" or "so and so has the backing of the Tea Party" If the Tea Party continues this route there will be no Tea Party in the future... America needs these people to hold Congress and our Legislature both Republicans and Democrats FEET TO THE FIRE for a long time to come....

Who let Michael Steele return from exile in Guam? Since returning from his pacific tour of places that have no elected seats in congress, hes on this hilarious "fire Pelosi" bus tour of these safe districs where there is absolutely zero chance of the Republican winning, including the race in Texas where the phycopathic preecher called for literal insurrection against the goverment if he did not win. Of course he will win reelection because hes the party's token black guy, and he knows it. Thats why hes using the party to cash in and make as much money at RNC expense as possible. Like most Republicans hes really not stupid, just meniachle in persuit of wholly personal gain at the expense of the really stupid.

As with most, if not all, politicians, Mike Steele mistakes the enthusiasm of the crowd for real change as support for himself. And, as with most politicians, he is wrong!

Mike Steele has been a disaster as RNC chief. He spent contributors’ money as if it was his private treasure chest. Now, that We the People are organized and united in their cause to replace Democrats with conservativess on Nov 2, Steele is, falsely, and hopefully, attributing this fervor as support for his continuation as head of the RNC.

When a new election is held for the job of RNC chairman, Steele is in for the shock of his life.

I sure hope that he's not the best there is to choose from and his election was a single act of desperation. He probably bought that sweatshirt from a conservative website and put in on for this interview.

The demo(n)cratic party prepared a buffet table of items, issues - complete with Christmas Eve healthcare programs, failure to take a vote on the extension of tax cuts, on and on - it's enough to make you sick - just be sure to die by December 31 or have major health issues resolved before 2014.

If it wasn't for Sarah Palin and ordinary people like me who have never done anything but vote prior to this year, it would have been a pretty lackluster election. Go Blunt, Turk, Torpey in Missouri. Retire Cleaver and send Carnahan back to the farm.